Smeltz liked Purdue, but felt Oklahoma State was a better fit and committed to the Cowboys after his freshman year of high school.

Schreiber, as it turns out, will get to coach Smeltz, but as his high school head coach for one season after being named coach of the Mavericks in September. And Smeltz will end up playing for the Boilermakers and Schreiber's successor, Mark Wasikowski.

The senior left-handed pitcher and first baseman announced he was de-committing from Oklahoma State last week and gave Purdue a verbal commitment not long after.

"I would be lying if I said it wasn't a dream of mine when I was a kid," Smeltz said of wearing a Purdue baseball uniform.

How this turnabout happened though has been less than ideal.

The 6-foot-4 Smeltz, who has topped out at 92 miles per hour, has a history of injuries dating back to junior high.

On June 6, he had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. Since going 5-1 with a 1.59 earned run average, striking out 82 in 52 2/3 innings his freshman year, Smeltz has pitched just three innings of high school baseball.

He has served as a first baseman and designated hitter in partial seasons the last two years, a role he'll again have to serve as a senior while recovering from the elbow procedure. His timeline to return to throwing hard off a mound is January 2019.

"At Purdue, with the facilities and training staff there, it gives me the chance to get my arm back to where it is in a time frame where I am not rushed or I don't feel pressure to throw hard," Smeltz said.

Oklahoma State still wanted Smeltz.

As it turns out, though, the Cowboys have numerous pitchers already sidelined with Tommy John surgery. Because of that, Smeltz said the scholarship amount verbally agreed upon had been rescinded.

"They still wanted me to be there," Smeltz said. "They have four or five guys on the roster right now (injured). There's 11.7 scholarships for 27 kids and you have 35 on the roster. it's rough."

In a strange roundabout way, Smeltz feels he's ending up in an ideal situation, joining the Boilermakers in what appears to be an upswing in success.

"Things fell into place and I believe I am where I am supposed to be," Smeltz said. "I have a really good opportunity 30 minutes from my house. I thought (Oklahoma State) was going to be the best place for me, but I didn't foresee getting Tommy John. It worked out."